Upper sealing device for tubular material package

ABSTRACT

An upper sealing device for a tubular material package is a packaging device for a pillow-type package, comprising a feeder ( 10 ), a discharger ( 11 ), open end fixing means ( 20 ), a retractable part ( 22 ), open end sealing means ( 30 ), holding means ( 40 ), sensors ( 51 ) for a carrying plate ( 42 ), a controller ( 50 ), a package ( 60 ) and an object to be packaged ( 62 ). The open end sealing means ( 30 ) are provided on both sides of the open end fixing means ( 20 ), and the holding means ( 40 ) is provided below the open end sealing means ( 30 ). Discharging outlets ( 12 ) are arranged in a row on the discharger ( 11 ). Several open end fixing parts ( 21 ) are provided on the open end fixing means ( 20 ). Several holding parts ( 41 ) are provided on the holding means ( 40 ). Each discharging outlet ( 12 ) opens downwards, and each open end fixing part is provided correspondingly below each discharging outlet. The open end fixing means ( 20 ) moves up and down. Each holding part ( 41 ) is provided correspondingly below each open end fixing part ( 21 ). The open end sealing means ( 30 ) is opened or closed in the horizontal direction, and the holding parts ( 41 ) are also opened or closed in the horizontal direction. After the object to be packaged enters the package from the top to the bottom, the holding means clamps the package, so that not only the open end can be separated from the open end fixing means for sealing, but also the air in the package can be pressed out.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a pillow-type packaging machine, especially a packaging method for the tubular material.

BACKGROUND

The present pillow-type packaging method is to vertically seal up the slices of the packaging materials from the left and right into a complete cavity, while the objects to be packaged are set inside, and then the cavity is cut off and sealed from two ends of the objects, thus resulting in a pillow-like package, which accounts for the name. The whole packaging procedure is highly automatic with a quick pace, applicable for massive, granular, powdery, and liquid objects, as for food like biscuits, yolk pie, chocolate, bread, fast noodles, moon cake, soya-bean milk, milk, soybean sauce, cooking wine, lotus root starch and etc.; and also applicable for the packaging for various commodities, industrial components and medical mechanics. There emerge many specialized techniques and patents on the pillow-type packaging machine.

It is quite a satisfactory form of pillow-type packaging, during which the slices of materials are sealed up into a cavity meanwhile the objects to be packaged are set into the cavity. However, it also comes in with the following disadvantages: 1. A big consumption of packaging materials. The present packaging is completed by stitching up the slices of packaging materials from the left and right, which results in a big consumption of the packaging materials in the stitching part. 2. A bad outlook. The stitches are left outside the completed package. 3. Multi-layer composite material is demanded for packaging materials, leading to a high cost. 4. Compared to the tubular material packaging, pillow-type packaging has one more process, leading to a higher cost and waste of the energy.

Compared with the mentioned packaging techniques based on slices of materials, tubular material packaging involves no stitching and no multi-layer composite material, which results in a low cost, a good outlook, better energy efficiency and inexpensiveness.

However, compared to the packaging with slices of materials, packaging with tubular materials has big difference in the procedures during which objects to be packaged are fed and sealed. 1. For packaging with slices of materials, it is to place the objects to be packaged into the slices of materials for packaging. No open ends are involved. But for packaging with tubular materials, it can only feed the objects to be packaged into the packaging materials through the open ends, while the open ends should not only stay open but also keeps the similar shapes of the objects to be packaged. If the open ends can not stay open as the expected shape, the objects to be packaged are unable to go through the tubular materials. 2. For packaging with slices of materials, it is feasible that multiple objects to be packaged are pre-set into one tube of the packaging material, and then cut and seal from the beginning and the end during the proceeding. But for packaging with tubular materials, the hollow tubes should be turned into packages, and then it is possible to feed the objects into the packages and complete the packaging. 3. For packaging with slices of materials, it is only to make one movement to satisfy the demanding packaging speed. But for packaging with tubular materials, four or more feeding and sealing should be made at the same time in order to satisfy the demanding packaging speed. 4. For packaging with slices of materials, the feeding and sealing can be completed on solid grounds. But for packaging with tubular materials, the feeding and sealing are completed in open air. It is still a problem to be solved that how to keep the packets from dropping after heavier objects are fed into the packets.

Chinese Patent “A bag prop apparatus for bag giving type packaging machine” (Application No.: 2006100527142) and Chinese Patent “A material feeding apparatus for packaging bag of automatic packaging machine for dispensable injectors” (Application No.: 2008100634552) offer some related solutions by air removal, but with no convincing descriptions on issues that how the objects to be packaged can be fed into the packages successfully, how packages will not drop after feeding, and how air removal are completed in the packages.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the invention is to offer a device for tubular materials package that can feed and seal the packages at the same time, which a row of open ends are fixed below the discharger.

The solution is that a row of discharging outlets opening downwards is set on the discharger. A feeder is set on the discharger. The feeder is able to convey objects to be packaged to each discharging outlet. An open end fixing means, which can move ups and downs, is set below the discharger. The same corresponding number of open end fixing parts is set on the open end fixing means in the corresponding positions to the discharging outlets. Each of the open end fixing parts is able to clamp or loosen the open end of a package; a slice open end sealing means is set below the open end fixing means. The open end sealing means is able to open and close horizontally. When the open end sealing means closes, it seals laterally all the packages at the same time. A holding means able to open, close and lean is set to below the open end sealing means. The holding means contains the same corresponding number of holding parts in the same corresponding position to the open end fixing means. When the holding means closes, each of the holding parts holds a package. A carrying plate able to open and close is set below the holding means. The position of the carrying plate is at the bottom of the package.

When the package with opening upwards is fixed below the open end fixing means, the open end sealing means keeps open and surrounds the up part of the package, the holding means keeps open and surrounds by the two sides of the package, the carrying plate keeps close and stays below the bottom of the package, and the open end fixing means and the discharger keep an appropriate distance.

The order of the operation is as follows: First, close the holding means, and each holding part holds an object to be packaged already inside from the outside of the package; Second, the open end fixing means loosens all the openings; Then, the open end fixing means moves upward and the openings are detached from the open end fixing parts; Then, the open end sealing means closes and seals the openings horizontally at the same time; at last, the holding parts loosen the objects to be packaged, the carrying plate opens and the object to be packaged falls down to the conveyor belt.

The invention is implemented as follows: An upper sealing device for a tubular material package comprises a feeder, a discharger, an open end fixing means, a retractable part, a open end sealing means, a holding means, a sensor for carrying plate, a controller, a package, an object to be packaged;

wherein a row of the discharging outlets are set on said discharger, and said feeder conveys said object to be packaged to the discharging outlets;

wherein said open end fixing means connects to the retractable part, said open end fixing means moves to extend or shrink, multiple open end fixing part are set on said open end fixing means, each of said open end fixing part clamp or loosen the open end of a package;

wherein said open end sealing means either stays open or close, when it closes, it seals all said package at the same time;

wherein multiple holding parts are set on said holding means, said holding means stays open or close, when it closes, each said holding parts holds said package;

wherein said carrying plate either stays open or close;

wherein said sensor is respectively set on said feeder, open end fixing means, retractable part, open end sealing means, holding means, and carrying plate, all said sensor connects to the controller;

wherein said feeder, open end fixing means, retractable part, open end sealing means, holding means, and carrying plate connect to the controller;

wherein said discharging outlet are arranged in a row, said discharging outlet open downward, and each open end fixing part is provided correspondingly below each discharging outlet; the open end fixing means moves up and down, said open end sealing means horizontally either opens or closes, said open end sealing means stays both sides of said open end fixing part, said holding part stays below said open end sealing means, said holding part horizontally either opens or closes, each holding part is provided correspondingly below said open end fixing part, said carrying plate stays below said holding part; when said carrying plate closes, the bottom of said package stays on said carrying plate, said carrying plate horizontally either opens or closes;

wherein after said carrying plate closes, sensor a sends a message of feeding; after said object to be packaged is placed in the feeder, sensor b sends a message of holding; after said holding means closes, sensor c sends a message of loosening; after said open end fixing part loosens, sensor d sends a message of detaching; after open end fixing means moves upwards, sensor e sends a message of sealing; after said open end sealing means closes, sensor f sends a message of completion; after said open end sealing means, holding means and carrying plate loosen, sensor g sends a message of a new loop.

Wherein said sensor a sent a message of feeding, said feeder feeds the object to be packaged; after sensor b sends a message of holding, said holding means closes; after sensor c sends a message of loosening, said open end fixing part loosens; after sensor d sends a message of detaching, said open end fixing means moves upwards; after sensor e sends a message of sealing, said open end sealing means closes; after sensor f sends a message of completion, said open end sealing means, said carrying plate and said holding means loosen; after sensor g sends a message, a new loop starts.

The advantages of the invention are as follows: after the object to be packaged enters the package from the top to the bottom, the holding means clamps the package, so that not only the open end can be separated from the open end fixing means for sealing, but also the air in the package can be pressed out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the side view of the embodiment in its original state;

FIG. 2 is the top view of the embodiment in its original state;

FIG. 3˜FIG. 8 are the side views of the embodiment on operation.

In figures, 10: feeder, 11: discharger, 12: discharger outlet, 20: open end fixing means, 21: open end fixing part, 22: retractable part, 30: open end sealing means, 40: holding means, 41: holding part; 42: carrying plate, 50: controller, 51: sensors 52: sensor a, 53: sensor b, 54: sensor c, 55: sensor d, 56: sensor e, 57: sensor f, 58: sensor g, 60: package, 61: open end, 62: object to be packaged, 70: output equipment.

The embodiment in the above mentioned figures has 5 discharging outlets, open end fixing parts and holding pars, which conceive of 5 packaging units. The number of the packaging units is just for exemplifications and modifications can be made to it that the embodiment has less or more than 5 packaging units.

In the embodiment, all the actions of the units or parts can be completed through electric components or pneumatic components, which are both the options of the implementation. In order to make the description concise, the details of power and the impetus will be omitted in figures and contexts.

EMBODIMENTS CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is the side view of the embodiment in its original state.

Only one state will be presented due to the side view.

As shown in the figure, a discharger 11 is below feeder 10. An open end fixing means 20 is below the discharger 11. An open end sealing means 30 is below the open end fixing means 20. A holding means 40 is below the open end sealing means 30. A carrying plate 42 is below the holding means 40.

In the figure, an open end fixing part 21 is beneath a corresponding discharging outlet 12. An open end 61 of the package 60 is set to the bottom of the open end fixing part 21. A holding part 41 is beneath a corresponding open end fixing part 21. The holding part 41 is horizontally spreads by the two sides of package 60. When the holding part 41 closes, the holding part 41 holds the package 60.

When the carrying plate 42 closes, the bottom of the package 60 is laid on the carrying plate 42. The carrying plate 42 is able to horizontally open and close, and now in the figure the carrying plate 42 opens.

The open end fixing means 20 connects to the retractable part 22, which is able to move ups and downs. Because when the carrying plate 42 closes, the bottom of the packet 60 lays on the supporting plate 42. The use of the carrying plate 42 is to bear weight and prevent the open end 61 from being detached off if the package 60 is heavy.

As shown in side view, the open end sealing means 30 stays by the two sides of the open end 61 of the package 60. The open end sealing, means 30 horizontally opens by the two sides of the open end 61 of the package 60, while the open end 61 is fixed to the open end fixing part 21. Only if the package 60 is hold from side and bottom, and the open end fixing part 21 moves upwards and leaves the open end 61, the open end sealing means 30 is able to close to seal the package 60.

The sensors 51 are respectively set on the feeder 10, the open end fixing means 20, the retractable part 22, the open end sealing means 30, the holding means 40 and the carrying plate 42. All of the sensors 51 connect to the controller 50; the connection and operation of the sensors 51 are only depicted in literature, and no additional illustrations and notes are presented in the figure.

The feeder 10, the open end fixing means 20, the retractable part 22, the open end sealing means 30, the holding means 40 and the carrying plate 42 connect to the controller 50. The connections between above mentioned parts or means and the controller 50 are not illustrated and noted in the figure.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is the top view of the embodiment in its original state.

In the figure, 5 discharging outlets 12 and 5 dischargers 10 are illustrated. The number is only for exemplification of multiple packaging units. The embodiment can be implemented by more or less than 5 packaging units.

Referring to the FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is the first step of the operation of the device. The figure illustrates the scene that the carrying plate 42 closes and the objects to be packaged 62 are being conveyed into the package 60.

The carrying plate 42 closes in the direction of the arrows, because when the carrying plate 42 closes, the bottom of the package 60 sits on the carrying plate 42. The use of the carrying plate 42 is to prevent the opening end 61 from being detached off the open end fixing part 21 during the period that objects to be packaged 62 are going into the package 60, when objects to be packaged 62 are heavy.

When the carrying plate 42 closes, sensor a 52 sends a message of feeding. After sensor a 52 sends the message of feeding, the feeder 10 starts to convey the objects to be packaged 62 to be packaged into the package 60 through the discharging outlet 12 of the package 60 in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is the second step of the operation of the device. The figure illustrates the scene after the objects to be packaged 62 are conveyed into the package 60.

After the objects to be packaged 62 are conveyed into the package 60, sensor b 53 sends a message of holding. After sensor b 53 sends the message of holding, the holding means 40 starts to close. The holding part 41 closes in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is the third step of the operation of the device. The figure illustrates the scene that the holding part 41 holds the package 60.

After the objects to be packaged 62 are conveyed into the package 60, the holding part 41 holds the package 60 with the objects to be packaged 62 inside. Holding the package 60 has two uses, one as to prevent the packet 60 leaning aside, and two as to squeeze the unnecessary air out of the package 60.

After the holding part 41 closes, sensor c 54 sends a message of loosening. After sensor c 54 sends a message of loosening, the open end fixing part 21 loosens.

After the open end fixing part 21 loosens, sensor d 55 sends a message of detachment. After sensor d 55 sends a message of detachment, the open end fixing means 20 moves upwards.

Because all the package 60 is hold from bottom by the carrying plate 42 and hold from side by the holding part 41, then even if the open end fixing part 21 loosens the open end 61, and the whole open end fixing means 20 starting to move upwards, all the package 60 is not able to lean and move accordingly, which leads to a result that when the open end fixing part 21 loosens the open end 61 of the package 60 and the whole open end fixing means 20 moves upwards, all the open end fixing part 21 will be detached off the open end 61.

After the open end fixing means 20 moves upwards, sensor e 56 sends a message of sealing. After sensor e 56 sends a message of sealing, the open end sealing means 30 starts to seal.

Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is the fourth step of the operation of the device. The figure illustrates the scene that the open end sealing means 30 starts to seal the open end 61 of the package 60.

As shown in the figure, because all the package 60 is hold from bottom by the carrying plate 42 and hold from side by holding part 41, all the open end fixing part 21 is detached off the open end 61.

The open end sealing means 30 closes in the direction of the arrows. In the meanwhile, it seals the opening end 61 of the package 60 horizontally.

After the open end sealing means 30 closes, sensor f 57 sends a message of completion, sensor f 57 sends the message of completion, the sealer 30, the carrying plate 42 and the holder 40 loosens.

Referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is the fifth step of the operation of the device. The figure illustrates the scene that the open end sealing means 30, the carrying plate 42 and the holding means 40 loosens.

After the open end sealing means 30 seals, the open end sealing means 30, the carrying plate 42 and the holding means 40 loosens at once.

Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is the sixth step of the operation of the device. The figure illustrates the scene that the package 60 completes the sealing.

After the open end sealing means 30, the carrying plate 42 and the holding means 40 loosens, sensor g 58 sends a message of completion. After sensor g 58 sends a message of completion, it sends a message of starting a new loop. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An upper sealing device for a tubular material package comprises a feeder (10), a discharger (11), an open end fixing means (20), a retractable part (22), a open end sealing means (30), a holding means (40), a sensor (51) for carrying plate (42), a controller (50), a package (60), an object to be packaged (62); wherein a row of the discharging outlets (12) are set on said discharger (11), and said feeder (10) conveys said object to be packaged (62) to the discharging outlets (12); wherein said open end fixing means (20) connects to the retractable part (22), said open end fixing means (20) moves to extend or shrink, multiple open end fixing part (21) are set on said open end fixing means (20), each of said open end fixing part (21) clamp or loosen the open end (62) of a package (60); wherein said open end sealing means (30) either stays open or close, when it closes, it seals all said package (60) at the same time; wherein multiple holding parts (41) are set on said holding means (40), said holding means (40) stays open or close, when it closes, each said holding parts (41) holds said package (60); wherein said carrying plate (42) either stays open or close; wherein said sensor (51) is respectively set on said feeder (10), open end fixing means (20), retractable part (22), open end sealing means (30), holding means (40), and carrying plate (42), all said sensor (51) connects to the controller (50); wherein said feeder (10), open end fixing means (20), retractable part (22), open end sealing means (30), holding means (40), and carrying plate (42) connect to the controller (50); wherein said discharging outlet (12) are arranged in a row, said discharging outlet (12) open downward, and each open end fixing part (21) is provided correspondingly below each discharging outlet (12); the open end fixing means (20) moves up and down, said open end sealing means (30) horizontally either opens or closes, said open end sealing means (30) stays both sides of said open end fixing part (21), said holding part (40) stays below said open end sealing means (30), said holding part (41) horizontally either opens or closes, each holding part (41) is provided correspondingly below said open end fixing part (21), said carrying plate (42) stays below said holding part (41); when said carrying plate (42) closes, the bottom of said package (60) stays on said carrying plate (42), said carrying plate (42) horizontally either opens or closes; wherein after said carrying plate (42) closes, sensor a (52) sends a message of feeding; after said object to be packaged (62) is placed in the feeder (10), sensor b (53) sends a message of holding; after said holding means (40) closes, sensor c (54) sends a message of loosening; after said open end fixing part (21) loosens, sensor d (55) sends a message of detaching; after open end fixing means (20) moves upwards, sensor e (56) sends a message of sealing; after said open end sealing means (30) closes, sensor f (57) sends a message of completion; after said open end sealing means (30), holding means (40) and carrying plate (42) loosen, sensor g (58) sends a message of a new loop.
 2. An upper sealing device for a tubular material package according to claim 1, wherein after sensor a (52) sends a message of feeding, said feeder (10) feeds the object to be packaged; after sensor b (53) sends a message of holding, said holding means (40) closes; after sensor c (54) sends a message of loosening, said open end fixing part (21) loosens; after sensor d (55) sends a message of detaching, said open end fixing means (20) moves upwards; after sensor e (56) sends a message of sealing, said open end sealing means (30) closes; after sensor f (57) sends a message of completion, said open end sealing means (30), said carrying plate (42) and said holding means (40) loosen; after sensor g (58) sends a message, a new loop starts. 